Ophthalmic devices incorporating photonic elements

ABSTRACT

This invention describes Ophthalmic Devices with media inserts that have photonic elements upon or within them. In some embodiments passive ophthalmic devices of various kinds may be formed. Methods and devices for active ophthalmic devices based on photonic based projection systems may also be formed.

FIELD OF USE

This invention describes Ophthalmic Devices that have Photonic Emittersupon or within them.

BACKGROUND

Traditionally, an ophthalmic device, such as a contact lens, anintraocular lens, or a punctal plug, included a biocompatible devicewith a corrective, cosmetic, or therapeutic quality. A contact lens, forexample, may provide one or more of vision correcting functionality,cosmetic enhancement, and therapeutic effects. Each function is providedby a physical characteristic of the lens. A design incorporating arefractive quality into a lens may provide a vision corrective function.A pigment incorporated into the lens may provide a cosmetic enhancement.An active agent incorporated into a lens may provide a therapeuticfunctionality. Such physical characteristics are accomplished withoutthe lens entering into an energized state. A punctal plug hastraditionally been a passive device.

Novel ophthalmic devices based on energized and non-energized ophthalmicinserts have recently been described. These devices may use theenergization function to power active optical components.

Recently, it has been demonstrated that nanoscale photonic elements maybe useful in projecting photons from arrays of said elements. In boththe near field and the far field perspectives of the photon projection,images may be obtained.

It may be useful to define ophthalmic devices to result from theincorporation of nanoscale photonic elements or arrays of such elementsinto said ophthalmic devices.

SUMMARY

Accordingly, the present invention includes an encapsulated Media Insertwith Photonic Emitters that may be included into an energized OphthalmicDevice, and in some embodiments, specifically, a contact lens. ThePhotonic Emitters may provide light patterns or dynamic images fromlight patterns that may be used to convey information or data through anophthalmic device to a user's retina in the form of the light patterns.In some embodiments, an energized Ophthalmic Device with a projectionsystem comprising an array of Photonic Emitters where the image isfiltered by a corresponding array of light modulating elements andprojected through an electro-optic lens system is provided.

The present invention therefore includes disclosure of Ophthalmicdevices which contain Photonic Emitters. The Ophthalmic devices mayadditionally include light sources which provide light to the PhotonicEmitters. The novel Ophthalmic devices may additionally includeelectronic components that control and pass energy in the form ofelectrical potential to the light source. The electronic components mayreceive their energy from energization elements. In some embodiments,these components may all be assembled in an Ophthalmic device that mayhave a size and shape that is consistent with the Ophthalmic deviceoccupying a position that is between a user's eye surface and a thateye's respective eye lid.

In some embodiments, the Photonic Emitters of such a device may beformed in a semiconducting material which may include or be made ofsilicon. Designs of the Photonic Emitters may have numerous aspectsuseful to their function. For example, the incorporation of resistiveheating elements in their structure may allow for Photonic Emitterelements that influence the phase characteristics of light that passthrough them. Other design elements, such as the length and separationof portions of the Photonic Emitter relative to light pipes that providephotons to the system, may be important.

The light sources that provide light to the Photonic Emitters and to thesystems formed from combinations of these Photonic Emitters may be ofdifferent types. Some embodiments may be comprised of light emittingdiodes for the light source. Other embodiments may comprise solid statelaser elements as at least part of the light source. In someembodiments, the light source may be comprised of combinations ofmultiple light sources. The combination may be of Led and Laser sourcesor of individual sources of each type, where the individual sources mayhave different wavelength characteristics. For example, a solid-statelight emitting element of either a diode type or a laser type may be oneof at least the following color choices: Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, orBlue to mention some examples. In some embodiments, the light source maybe formed in or upon the same substrate as the Photonic Emitter in aprocessing flow that my in one flow process light sources, electroniccomponents and optical components. In other embodiments, separate lightsource components may be attached to the systems comprising PhotonicEmitters.

The Ophthalmic device may include elements and systems of elements thatact on the intensity of light emitted from a Photonic Emitter before itleaves the ophthalmic device. In some embodiments, each Photonic Emittermay comprise a pixel element, and each pixel element may also have aLight Modulating Element. A combination of these light modulatingelements may be considered a light modulating system. When each of thelight modulating elements is paired with a Photonic Emitter or arepeating combination of Photonic Emitters, the system may be consideredas a Pixel Based Light Modulating System.

The Light Modulating Elements may function by interposing a materialthat filters light into the light path arising from the PhotonicEmitters. In some embodiments, this function may be performed usingElectro-Wetting on Dielectric (EWOD) based phenomena, where a surfaceregion within the device may be constructed to have a nascent surfacefree energy. The EWOD device may then also have a combination ofimmiscible liquids or fluids that interact differently with the surfaceregion of defined nascent surface free energy. A controlled applicationof an electro-potential across the surface region may be useful inaltering its surface free energy or its effective surface free energyand thus interact with the combination of immiscible fluids differently.If at least one of the fluids absorbs or scatters the light emanatingfrom the Photonic Emitter and the other does not, by changing whichfluids are or are not in the light path, a control or modulation of thelight intensity may be obtained and this may be called light modulation.

An Ophthalmic device may be formed by incorporating a projection systemalong with energization elements, control circuitry, communicationcircuitry and data processing circuitry into a single entity. Theprojection system may be made up of a subsystem comprising at least aPhotonic Emitter element, a light source, a light modulating element anda lens element. The projection systems may also be made up of subsystemsthat comprise combinations of Photonic Emitter elements and anassociated Pixel Based Light Modulating Elements.

An ophthalmic device, which incorporates a projection system, maydisplay data or information in various forms. The display may projecttext-based information. Similarly, the display may project images. Theimages may be of the form of digital images comprised of multiple pixelsof image data projected. The images may be displayed as a monochromedisplay or alternatively have various degrees of color. By altering thedisplay on a time scale, the projection system may display data in theform of video of various formats.

The exemplary display of an ophthalmic display comprising a system ofPhotonic Emitters may incorporate lenses as part of the ophthalmicdevice. These lenses may act on the image formed from the system ofphotonic emitters and focus that image in various ways onto the user'sretina. The far field image created by the array of photonic emitters orthe near field image created by the array of photonic emitters may befocused by the lens system. In some embodiments, the lens system maycomprise multiple lens subsystems. In some embodiments, the lenssubsystems may have elements that have a fixed focal characteristic or afixed focal length. In other embodiments, the lens subsystem may includeat least a first variable focal length lens. An example of such avariable focal length lens may include a meniscus-based lens that mayalso function utilizing the EWOD effect. Complex variable focal lengthlens may also be formed with multiple electrode regions that may beuseful to move the focal point characteristic of the lens both from afocal length perspective but also from a translational perspective thatmay effectively vary where the image is projected. In some cases, theimage may be projected by the system through a user's eye and upon auser's retina. When projected on the user's retina, the size of theimage formed by the extent of the imaged photonic elements may be lessthan a square centimeter in size. In other embodiments the size may beless than or approximately equal to a square millimeter in size.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a Media Insert for anenergized ophthalmic device and an exemplary embodiment of an energizedOphthalmic Device.

FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary contact lens with various featuresincluding an incorporated annular multi-piece insert that may be usefulfor implementing aspects of the art herein.

FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary alternative embodiment to thatdemonstrated in FIG. 2 wherein the insert comprises material in theoptical zone.

FIG. 4 illustrates exemplary Photonic Emitter structures consistent withstructures described in the state of the art elsewhere, which may beuseful for implementing aspects of the art herein.

FIG. 5 illustrates an array structure of Photonic Emitters with a lightsource and means of coupling the light source to the array.

FIG. 6 illustrates an exemplary device comprising an array of PhotonicEmitters within a portion of the optical zone of an exemplary ophthalmicdevice.

FIG. 7. Illustrates an exemplary light modulating element structure thatmay be useful for implementing aspects of the art herein.

FIG. 8. Illustrates an alternative exemplary light modulating elementstructure that may be useful for implementing aspects of the art herein.

FIG. 9. Illustrates an exemplary energized ophthalmic device for aprojection system comprising photonic arrays, light phase or intensitymodulation arrays and lens systems that may be useful for implementingaspects of the art herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an ophthalmic device having PhotonicEmitters that may project light patterns in the environment of the eye.In the following sections detailed descriptions of embodiments of theinvention will be given. The description of both preferred andalternative embodiments are exemplary embodiments only, and it isunderstood that to those skilled in the art that variations,modifications and alterations may be apparent. It is therefore to beunderstood that said exemplary embodiments do not limit the scope of theunderlying invention.

Glossary

In this description and claims directed to the presented invention,various terms may be used for which the following definitions willapply:

Electro-wetting on Dielectric or EWOD: as used herein refers to a classof devices or a class of portions of devices where a combination ofimmiscible fluids or liquids, a surface region with defined surface freeenergy and an electro-potential field are present. Typically, theelectro-potential field will alter the surface free energy of thesurface region, which may alter the interaction of the immiscible fluidswith the surface region.

Energized: as used herein refers to the state of being able to supplyelectrical current to or to have electrical energy stored within.

Energy: as used herein refers to the capacity of a physical system to dowork. Many uses within this invention may relate to the said capacitybeing able to perform electrical actions in doing work.

Energy Source: as used herein refers to a device or layer that iscapable of supplying Energy or placing a logical or electrical device inan Energized state.

Energy Harvester: as used herein refers to a device capable ofextracting energy from the environment and converting it to electricalenergy.

Functionalized: as used herein refers to making a layer or device ableto perform a function including for example, energization, activation,or control.

Leakage: as used herein refers to unwanted loss of energy.

Lens or Ophthalmic Device: as used herein refers to any device thatresides in or on the eye. These devices may provide optical correction,may be cosmetic, or may provide functionality unrelated to the eye. Forexample, the term lens may refer to a contact lens, intraocular lens,overlay lens, ocular insert, optical insert, or other similar devicethrough which vision is corrected or modified, or through which eyephysiology is cosmetically enhanced (e.g. iris color) without impedingvision. Alternatively, the Lens may provide non-optic functions such as,for example, monitoring glucose or administrating medicine. In someembodiments, the preferred lenses of the invention are soft contactlenses are made from silicone elastomers or hydrogels, which include,for example, silicone hydrogels, and fluorohydrogels.

Lens-forming mixture or Reactive Mixture or Reactive Monomer Mixture(RMM): as used herein refers to a monomer or prepolymer material thatmay be cured and crosslinked or crosslinked to form an ophthalmic lens.Various embodiments may include lens-forming mixtures with one or moreadditives such as, for example, UV blockers, tints, photoinitiators orcatalysts, and other additives one might desire in an ophthalmic lensessuch as, contact or intraocular lenses.

Lens-forming Surface: as used herein refers to a surface that is used tomold a lens. In some embodiments, any such surface can have an opticalquality surface finish, which indicates that it is sufficiently smoothand formed so that a lens surface fashioned by the polymerization of alens forming material in contact with the molding surface is opticallyacceptable. Further, in some embodiments, the lens-forming surface canhave a geometry that is necessary to impart to the lens surface thedesired optical characteristics, including without limitation,spherical, aspherical and cylinder power, wave front aberrationcorrection, corneal topography correction and the like as well as anycombinations thereof.

Light Modulating Element as used herein refers to a device or portion ofa device that modulates the intensity of light transmitting from oneside to another. The ideal light modulating elements in embodimentsherein will transmit all light in one state and no light in another.Practical elements may substantially achieve the ideal aspects.

Lithium Ion Cell: as used herein refers to an electrochemical cell whereLithium ions move through the cell to generate electrical energy. Thiselectrochemical cell, typically called a battery, may be reenergized orrecharged in its typical forms.

Media Insert: as used herein refers to an encapsulated insert that willbe included in an energized ophthalmic device. The energization elementsand circuitry may be incorporated in the Media Insert. The Media Insertdefines the primary purpose of the energized ophthalmic device. Forexample, in embodiments where the energized ophthalmic device allows theuser to adjust the optic power, the Media Insert may includeenergization elements that control a liquid meniscus portion in theOptical Zone. Alternatively, a Media Insert may be annular so that theOptical Zone is void of material. In such embodiments, the energizedfunction of the Lens may not be optic quality but may be, for example,monitoring glucose or administering medicine.

Mold: as used herein refers to a rigid or semi-rigid object that may beused to form lenses from uncured formulations. Some preferred moldsinclude two mold parts forming a front curve mold part and a back curvemold part.

Operating Mode: as used herein refers to a high current draw state wherethe current over a circuit allows the device to perform its primaryenergized function.

Optical Zone: as used herein refers to an area of an ophthalmic lensthrough which a wearer of the ophthalmic lens sees.

Photonic Emitter: as used herein refers to a device or device portionthat may receive incident light and transmit that light into free space.The light may typically proceed in an altered direction than thatincident upon the emitter. The Emitter may typically comprise an antennastructure to transmit the light.

Pixel Based Light Modulation System: as used herein refers to acombination of light modulating elements that function individuallywherein each individually function portion of the light modulationsystem may be considered a pixel or picture element.

Power: as used herein refers to work done or energy transferred per unitof time.

Rechargeable or Re-energizable: as used herein refers to a capability ofbeing restored to a state with higher capacity to do work. Many useswithin this invention may relate to the capability of being restoredwith the ability to flow electrical current at a certain rate and for acertain, reestablished period.

Reenergize or Recharge: as used herein refers to restoring to a statewith higher capacity to do work. Many uses within this invention mayrelate to restoring a device to the capability to flow electricalcurrent at a certain rate and for a certain, reestablished period.

Reference: as use herein refers to a circuit which produces an, ideally,fixed and stable voltage or current output suitable for use in othercircuits. A reference may be derived from a bandgap, may be compensatedfor temperature, supply, and process variation, and may be tailoredspecifically to a particular application-specific integrated circuit(ASIC).

Released from a Mold: as used herein refers to a lens is eithercompletely separated from the mold, or is only loosely attached so thatit may be removed with mild agitation or pushed off with a swab.

Reset Function: as used herein refers to a self-triggering algorithmicmechanism to set a circuit to a specific predetermined state, including,for example, logic state or an energization state. A Reset Function mayinclude, for example, a power-on reset circuit, which may work inconjunction with the Switching Mechanism to ensure proper bring-up ofthe chip, both on initial connection to the power source and on wakeupfrom Storage Mode.

Sleep Mode or Standby Mode: as used herein refers to a low current drawstate of an energized device after the Switching Mechanism has beenclosed that allows for energy conservation when Operating Mode is notrequired.

Stacked: as used herein means to place at least two component layers inproximity to each other such that at least a portion of one surface ofone of the layers contacts a first surface of a second layer. In someembodiments, a film, whether for adhesion or other functions may residebetween the two layers that are in contact with each other through saidfilm.

Stacked Integrated Component Devices or SIC Devices: as used hereinrefers to the products of packaging technologies that assemble thinlayers of substrates that may contain electrical and electromechanicaldevices into operative-integrated devices by means of stacking at leasta portion of each layer upon each other. The layers may comprisecomponent devices of various types, materials, shapes, and sizes.Furthermore, the layers may be made of various device productiontechnologies to fit and assume various contours.

Storage Mode: as used herein refers to a state of a system comprisingelectronic components where a power source is supplying or is requiredto supply a minimal designed load current. This term is notinterchangeable with Standby Mode.

Substrate Insert: as used herein refers to a formable or rigid substratecapable of supporting an Energy Source within an ophthalmic lens. Insome embodiments, the Substrate insert also supports one or morecomponents.

Switching Mechanism: as used herein refers to a component integratedwith the circuit providing various levels of resistance that may beresponsive to an outside stimulus, which is independent of theophthalmic device.

Energized Ophthalmic Device

Proceeding to FIG. 1, an exemplary embodiment of a Media Insert 100 foran energized ophthalmic device and a corresponding energized ophthalmicdevice 150 are illustrated. The Media Insert 100 may comprise an OpticalZone 120 that may or may not be functional to provide vision correction.Where the energized function of the ophthalmic device is unrelated tovision, the Optical Zone 120 of the Media Insert 100 may be void ofmaterial. In some embodiments, the Media Insert 100 may include aportion not in the Optical Zone 120 comprising a substrate 115incorporated with energization elements 110 and electronic components105. There may be numerous embodiments relating to including PhotonicEmitters into ophthalmic devices.

In some embodiments, a power source 110, which may be, for example, abattery, and a load 105, which may be, for example, a semiconductor die,may be attached to the substrate 115. Conductive traces 125 and 130 mayelectrically interconnect the electronic components 105 and theenergization elements 110. The Media Insert 100 may be fullyencapsulated to protect and contain the energization elements, traces,and electronic components. In some embodiments, the encapsulatingmaterial may be semi-permeable, for example, to prevent specificsubstances, such as water, from entering the Media Insert 100 and toallow specific substances, such as ambient gasses or the byproducts ofreactions within energization elements, to penetrate or escape from theMedia Insert 100.

In some embodiments, the Media Insert 100 may be included in anophthalmic device 150, which may comprise a polymeric biocompatiblematerial. The ophthalmic device 150 may include a rigid center, softskirt design wherein a central rigid optical element comprises the MediaInsert 100. In some specific embodiments, the Media Insert 100 may be indirect contact with the atmosphere and the corneal surface on respectiveanterior and posterior surfaces, or alternatively, the Media Insert 100may be encapsulated in the ophthalmic device 150. The periphery 155 ofthe ophthalmic Lens 150 may be a soft skirt material, including, forexample, a hydrogel material.

The infrastructure of the media insert 100 and the ophthalmic device 150may provide an environment for numerous embodiments involving lightprojection with Photonic Emitters, which may be combined with active ornon-active lens devices and in some embodiments with light intensitymodulating arrays. Some of these embodiments may involve purely passivefunction of the portion of the ophthalmic device not related to thephotonic projection components. Other embodiments, may involve theophthalmic device having active functions that may complement orsupplement the function of the photonic projection components. Forexample, the non-projection portions of the device may provide visioncorrection or active “screening” of the device such that itstransparency to incident light is reduced.

Proceeding to FIG. 2, item 200 a depiction of an exemplary multi-pieceinsert may be illustrated in cross section. The insert of this type isan annular insert with a ring of material around a central optical zonethat is devoid of material. In FIG. 2, the ophthalmic device, 220, mayhave a cross sectional representation, 230, which represents a crosssection through the location represented by line 210. In an exemplaryembodiment, the region of the insert outside the optic zone of theophthalmic device may include energization elements and controllingelectronics to support active elements of various kinds. These activeelements may typically include sensors and communication elements ofvarious types. Alternatively, in some embodiments of the inventive artherein may provide the control and energization function for aprojection element based upon photonic projection elements. As well,outside the optic zone of the device there may be printed patternsplaced on the insert as shown by item 221 and in cross section as items231.

In some embodiments, there may be a requirement for orientation of theophthalmic lens within the ocular environment. Items 250 and 260 mayrepresent stabilization zone features that can aid in orienting theformed ophthalmic lens upon a user's eye. Moreover, in some embodimentsthe use of orientation features upon the multi-piece annular insert mayallow for its orientation relative to the molded stabilization features,which may be particularly important for placements of projectionelements and lens systems that do not have dynamic focus and centeringcontrols.

Proceeding to FIG. 3, item 300 a variation of the exemplary multi-pieceinsert shown in FIG. 2 may be illustrated in cross section. In FIG. 3,the ophthalmic device, 320, may have a cross sectional representation,330, which represents a cross section through the location representedby line 310. In an exemplary embodiment, the optic zone of theophthalmic device 320 may include a portion where an active focaladjusting lens system such as a liquid meniscus based lens system 335may be found. As well, outside the optic zone of the device there may beportions of the insert that contain energization elements and controland activation components at 336. For similar motivations as theembodiment in FIG. 2, there may be alignment features or stabilizationzones incorporated into the ophthalmic device as shown as items 350 and360, and there may be patterns printed upon the insert as features 331.

Photonic Projection Elements

Proceeding to FIG. 4, item 400 Photonic Emitters are displayed. Theremay be numerous manners of defining emitter (which may also beconsidered radiator) elements for use with photonic applications. In400, item 410 demonstrates a simple Photonic Emitter element consistentwith some definitions described in the state of the art. The source ofthe photons for the system may be a light pipe 420 that runs parallel tocoupling portions 430 of the radiator element. Photons travellingthrough the light pipe 420 may couple to the coupling portions 430 by aprocess which may be called evanescent coupling; an exponentiallydecaying phenomena in the near region to the periphery of the lightpipe. The coupling will allow photons to move from the light pipe to theradiator element. The degree of the coupling and therefore the number ofphotons that enter the radiator element, which is a type of intensity,may be modulated by a number of phenomena such as the materials used,the ambient conditions but more importantly the structural design of thesystem. The length of the parallel portion of item 430 and the gapbetween this region and the light pipe, 435 may dominate the efficiencyof coupling and can be used to adjust the nominal relative intensity ofa Photonic Emitter in a collection of Photonic Emitters. In item 410,the light will proceed through the element's light guiding components,430 until it reaches the radiator portion shaped in a diffractiongrating. Numerous effects can be exploited to increase the efficiency oflight through the Photonic Emitter, as for example the constructed angleof the emission surfaces and their shape and gap dimension. Ideally asmuch light as possible will be emitted at 440 in one direction, forexample “out of the page.”

At 450, a more sophisticated Photonic Emitter may be found. A heatingmechanism may be incorporated into the emitter cell. It may be comprisedof a resistive heater built into the Photonic Emitter. In embodiments,where the emitter is formed in semiconducting materials, like silicon,the resistor may be formed in the same layer where it may be doped toalter resistivity characteristics. By flowing a current from a contact480, through a resistive arm 470, and through a portion of the emitterbody 430 and back through another portion of the resistive arm 471 andthrough a contact 460, the Photonic Emitter may have a portion of thelight path differentially heated. Thermal effects in light pipes such asthat of item 430 may alter the phase characteristics of the light thattravels through them. Thus, the Photonic Emitter of item 450 may have acertain intensity of light emitted from it based on the intensity in thesource light pipe 420 and the efficiency of coupling of source lightinto the emitter device based on the proximity of a coupling region ofthe emitter device and the dimensions of that coupling region. Moreover,in addition the phase of that light may be controllably altered based onthe application of an electrical current through the heater portionbetween item 460 and 480. Control of the relative phase of emitted lightin such a manner may result in the effective transmission of informationencoded in the phase characteristics being observable in the far fieldimage of an array built with such Photonic Emitters where the phase ofindividual pixels may be controlled by the thermal state imposed onportions of the emitter device. There may be numerous materials thatsuch a Photonic Emitter may be constructed in and there may be numerousmeans for different materials to introduce phase effects includingthermal controls and mechanical stress controls as non-limitingexamples.

Proceeding to FIG. 5, item 500 an exemplary array constructed fromPhotonic Emitters is depicted. In some embodiments, the Photonic Emitterpixel 520 may be defined in a similar fashion to the elements at 410 or450. In item 500, the cells are depicted of the type in item 450. Lightis supplied from a light source 540 that may in some embodiments becomprised of one or more laser elements emitting light into one or moresupply light pipes for the Photonic Emitter array. Electrical currentflowing through the heated portions of a pixel 520 may be introduced byconductive metal lines built into the Photonic Emitter in similarfashions to the metal lines in an integrated circuit. A set of wordlines 530 may have corresponding bit lines 535 to allow the addressingof individual cells in an efficient fashion. In some embodiments, thephotonic array may be built into the silicon substrate useful toconstruct control electronics for the array itself. The exemplary pixelelements such as 520 may have a dimension about 9 microns by 9 micronsor smaller. Thus, an array of 64×64 emitters may have a scale of roughly0.5 mm by 0.5 mm in size. The actual dimensions of the pixels may varyin a matrix and may be different for different targeted wavelengths ofemission.

In the inset 550 of item 500, a close up version of the light source andthe supply light pipe or pipes, 540 may be shown. Light from a source,561 may be guided into the light pipe. Along the dimension of the lightpipe, additional distribution elements in the form of additional lightpipes may be found. Items 570, 571 and 572 may demonstrate light pipescoupled into the main supply light pipe and running roughlyperpendicular to distribute light to rows of Photonic Emitters. Thedesign aspects of the pipes and the individual pixel elements along therow may be optimized for each element so that a particular intensitypattern along the row and in the array may be obtained. In a preferredexample, the array may be designed such that the resulting emissionintensity from each pixel is approximately the same for all elements.

In some embodiments, multiple light sources at different wavelengths maybe used to impart light on a single source light pipe 540 or in someembodiments; the light pipe 540 may be comprised of multiple pipes. Inthe example, there may be three different light sources 561, 562 and563. Where in a non-limiting example source 561 may comprise a red lightsource, source 562 may comprise a green light source and 563 maycomprise a blue light source. There may be numerous types of sources oflight consistent with the inventive art including solid state lasers, orsolid state light emitting diodes, or filtered incandescent lamps as nonlimiting examples. In embodiments where the relative phase of the pixelsin the array may be important for encoding information, the light sourcemay be characterized by a desired coherence of the light output. Otherembodiments may function with non-coherent light sources.

If there are multiple wavelengths provided in the supply source, theinteraction of the rows of light pipes shown as item 570 may becontrolled so that one light source is favored for a particular row.This may be controlled by the use of filtering materials in the regionwhere the light pipe for a row 570 couples to the supply light pipe.Alternatively, if there are multiple supply light pipes, the pipes forthe non-desired wavelengths for a particular light source may be blockedby absorbing material. There may be numerous materials that may be usedto block the light coupling including metallic materials or the use ofheavy doping levels in a semiconductor material.

In an alternative embodiment, the multiple light sources may have a dutycycle. They may be turned on or off for their turn to use the sourcelight pipes. In such an embodiment, there may not be a need for eithermultiple source lines or controls to funnel different light sources todifferent regions of the array. However, the design of the PhotonicEmitter pixel may have to be performed in such a manner that is notoptimized for a particular wavelength but optimized for all wavelengthsemployed. In some embodiments, the pixel may be comprised by multipleemitters where one of the emitters may be optimized for a particularsource.

In the array of item 510 where the individual pixels include phaseshifting components within their design, it may be useful to includelenses that allow for the focusing of the far field image of the arrayonto a particular point, which may include a user's retina. In a singlelight source embodiment, it may be important for coherent light to beused as the source. The resulting far field image may comprise an imageconstructed from the phase information within the individual pixels. Anexample of such an embodiment where a photonic array projecting farfield phase controlled pixel images may be depicted in FIG. 6, item 600.An ophthalmic insert 610 as has been described, which may containenergization elements, and control circuitry may control electricalsignals through an electrical bus 630. In some embodiments, this bus maybe constructed of conductors with as little visible light absorbancecharacteristics as possible. For example, Indium Tin Oxide (ITO) may bean example. A projection system 620 may be located at the center of theoptical zone and may comprise an array of Photonic Emitters as shown initem 650 along with control circuitry, light sources, and lensingelements to mention a few of the included components.

An alternative embodiment may involve the use of the photonic array asan emitter of light where the phase characteristics are not the primaryfocus. Proceeding to FIG. 7, item 700 an example of a pixel element 720utilizing the exemplary Photonic Emitter without incorporated heater maybe found. In some embodiments, the incorporation of the heater may stillbe desirable, but for example, it is not depicted. If the near fieldimage of the resulting array is focused on a particular position, thelight source may be part of a projection system where each pixel has anelement that controls the transmitted intensity that proceeds from theemitter to the user's retina. In FIG. 7, an example of a lightintensity-controlling element aligned to each photonic emission elementmay be found.

The phenomena of Electro-wetting on Dielectrics may be used to controlintensity transmitted on a pixel-by-pixel basis. The technique acts oncombinations of liquids by changing the surface free energy of surfacesnear the liquids. Combinations of immiscible liquids, where one liquid,for example is a polar liquid like an aqueous solution, and the otherliquid is a non polar liquid like an oil may be effective for EWODdevices. One of these liquids may be formulated to be transparent tolight in a particular desired wavelength regime whereas the other liquidmay be opaque at those or all visible wavelengths. The liquid itself mayhave such properties, or the liquid may be combined with dying agents toresult in the desired wavelength blocking effect. And, it may bepossible to include different combinations of liquids with differentinherent wavelength blocking capabilities in different pixel elements inthe same device.

In an example embodiment, an oil based non-aqueous liquid may comprise adying agent to render an effective absorbance in a layer of an EWODpixel cell that may be considered a Light Modulating Element. In FIG. 7,item 710 may comprise a pixel element where the oil-based liquid islocated across the pixel and absorbs significant quantities of light.There may be isolation structure 711 and 716 that define the edges ofthe pixel cell. The oil-based liquid may be that depicted as item 717 inthe exemplary pixel based EWOD cell. A portion of the cell at item 713may be coated with a material that has a surface free energy such thatit may repel oil-based fluids. The aqueous fluid may be represented asitem 718. Therefore in a standard non energized state, the fluids wouldprefer to assume a location where the dyed oil based phase is localizedacross the interior region of the pixel away from surface 713, andtherefore in the light path of light proceeding through the pixel. Acombination of electrodes 715 and 714 along with a dielectric underlyingor comprising the material of surface 713 allows for an application ofan electro-potential across the two immiscible liquids. By applying anelectro-potential across the electrodes, the free energy of surface 713may be altered to attract the oil-based liquid of item 717 to it as maybe observed at 720. When the dyed fluid 717 is drawn to the sidewallregion of the electrode as shown as 727 it is moved out of the opticalpath and the pixel becomes more transparent to light through it. Thisembodiment would therefore allow for the pixel-based control of lightemanating from a Photonic Emitter to be passed on through. In someembodiments, this may allow for a projection system to be formed from acombination of an array of Photonic Emitters each with a correspondingpixel element comprising an electro-wetting on dielectric cell tocontrol transmittance. These embodiments may also comprise a lightsource, control electronics for both the light source and the pixelelements, and a lens system to focus the near field image at a desiredlocation, which may comprise a user's retina. There may be numerousalternatives to the electro-wetting on dielectric cell that may allowfor the control of the transmittance of light near a Photonic Emitter.Additionally, the example provided of the electro-wetting on dielectricbased cell may have numerous alternatives including for example thereversal of the type of fluid that may comprise a dye or an inherentquality to block light.

Proceeding to FIG. 8, item 800 an alternative embodiment of an EWODpixel based light intensity-modulating cell is depicted. In thisembodiment, the electrode in proximity to a surface along which a fluidwill be attracted is not on the sidewall of a vertical structure butalong one of the cell faces. Because the device may operate with lightproceeding through this surface, the use of relatively transparentelectrodes is important in such embodiments. As mentioned in previousdiscussions, the use of ITO as the material for the electrode may be anacceptable solution. As well, there may be modifications that allow theelectrode to be located on the periphery of the EWOD cell face as well.Nevertheless, in FIG. 8, item 810 may represent a cell where the lightabsorbing material is blocking the majority of the cell surface. Item817 may represent a fluid with an absorbing characteristic this iseither inherent or results from the use of dyes. Item 818 may representthe other fluid that may not significantly interact with light throughthe cell. Item 813 may represent a surface which has a defined surfacefree energy which may be either inherent or may result from processingdesigned to establish a surface characteristic. Item 812 may be anoptional layer of dielectric material that may be present if item 813 iscreated either as an additional film upon a dielectric or as a surfacemodification of a dielectric. Item 814 may be an electrode useful indefining the region of the dielectric surface that is affected when anelectro-potential is applied across the EWOD cell. Items 811 and 816 maybe the structural containment that is used to define pixels. When anelectro-potential is applied across the cell at points 814 and 815, thestate of the cell may be as depicted in item 820. By causing the lightabsorbing fluid to be repelled in the region of the surface above theelectrode 814, the fluid moves to the edge of the pixel element as shownby 827 on the cell depiction. Therefore, it is moved out of the opticalpath and the pixel becomes more transparent to light through it.

Energized Ophthalmic Devices with Photonic Emitters

Proceeding to FIG. 9, item 900 an embodiment that incorporates many ofthe discussed aspects of a Photonic based imaging system is displayed.Item 910 may be an ophthalmic device capable of being worn on a user'seye surface. It may be formed of a hydrogel-based skirt 911 thatcompletely surrounds in some embodiments, or partially surrounds orsupports an insert device in other embodiments. In the depiction, theskirt 911 surrounds a fundamentally annular insert device 936. Sealedwithin the insert device 936 may be energization elements, electroniccircuitry for control, activation, communication, processing and thelike. The energization elements may be single use battery elements orrechargeable elements along with power control systems, which enable therecharging of the device. The components may be located in the insertdevice as discrete components or as stacked integrated devices withmultiple active layers.

The ophthalmic device may have structural and cosmetic aspects to itincluding, stabilization elements 950 and 960 which may be useful fordefining orientation of the device upon the user's eye and for centeringthe device appropriately. The fundamentally annular device may havepatterns printed upon one or more of its surfaces depicted as an irispattern item 921 and in the cross section 930, along the line 915, asitems 931.

The insert device may have a photonic-based imaging system in a smallregion of the optical zone as shown as item 940. As mentionedpreviously, in some embodiments a 64×64 pixel imaging system may beformed with a size roughly 0.5 mm×0.5 mm in size. In cross section, itmay be observed that item 940 may be a photonic projection componentthat may comprise photonic emitter elements; an EWOD based pixeltransmittance control device, a light source or multiple light sourcesand electronics to control these components. The photonic-based imagingsystem may be attached to a lens system 950 and be connected to theannular insert component by a data and power interconnection bus 941.

In some embodiments, the lens system may be formed of static lenscomponents that focus the near field image of the imaging system to afixed location in space related to the body of the ophthalmic device. Inother embodiments, the lens system may also include active components.For example, a meniscus based lens device with multiple electroderegions may be used to both translate the center of the projected imageand adjust the focal power of the device to adjust the focus andeffectively the size of the image projected. The lens device may haveits own control electronics or alternatively it may be controlled andpowered by either the photonic-based imaging component or the annularinsert device or both.

In some embodiments, the display may be a 64×64 based projection system,but more or less pixels are easily within the scope of the inventiveart, which may be limited by the size of the pixel elements and theophthalmic device itself. The display may be useful for displaying dotmatrix textual data, image data or video data. The lens system may beused to expand the effective pixel size of the display in someembodiments by rastering the projection system across the user's eyewhile displaying data. The display may be monochromatic in nature oralternatively have a color range based on multiple light sources. Datato be displayed may be communicated to the ophthalmic lens from anoutside source, or data may originate from the ophthalmic device itselffrom sensors, or memory components for example. In some cases data mayoriginate both from external sources with communication and from withinthe ophthalmic device itself.

The invention claimed is:
 1. An ophthalmic device comprising: at least aone light source that emits light; at least one photonic emitter thatemits at least some of the light received from the light source; anelectronic component that applies an electrical potential to the lightsource; and an energization element that energizes at least theelectronic component, wherein the energization element has a size and ashape such that it occupies a position between an eye-lid and thesurface of an eye.
 2. The ophthalmic device of claim 1 wherein: thephotonic emitter is comprised of a semiconducting material.
 3. Theophthalmic device of claim 2 wherein: the semiconducting materialcomprises silicon.
 4. The ophthalmic device of claim 3 wherein: thephotonic emitter additionally comprises a resistive heating element. 5.The ophthalmic device of claim 1 wherein: the light source comprises alight emitting diode.
 6. The ophthalmic device of claim 1 wherein: thelight source comprises a laser.
 7. The ophthalmic device of claim 1additionally comprising: a pixel based light modulating system.
 8. Theophthalmic device of claim 7 wherein: the pixel based light modulationsystem comprises a surface region that is free of energy and capable ofbeing altered by the application of an electropotential field.
 9. Theophthalmic device of claim 8, wherein: the pixel based light modulationsystem comprises a meniscus based lens.
 10. The ophthalmic device ofclaim 1 wherein: the at least one photonic emitter receives light viaevanescent coupling.
 11. The ophthalmic device of claim 1 furthercomprising: a light pipe optically coupled to the at least one lightsource.
 12. The ophthalmic device of claim 11, wherein: the at least onephotonic emitter comprises a light receiving portion which runs parallelto the light pipe.
 13. The ophthalmic device of claim 12, wherein: theat least one photonic emitter comprises a radiator portion shaped in adiffraction grating.
 14. The ophthalmic device of claim 1 wherein: lightfrom the photonic emitter proceeds in an altered directed than thatincident upon the photonic emitter.
 15. The ophthalmic device of claim 1wherein: the photonic emitter further comprises an antenna structure totransmit light.